Frequently Asked Questions

822. I'm a U.S. person that relied on general or specific licenses pursuant to 560.530, 560.532, or 560.533 of the ITSR to conduct humanitarian-related transactions and activities involving the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) or the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) prior to their designations under E.O. 13224, as amended. Is any further authorization needed to conduct such transactions following the designations of the CBI and NIOC under E.O. 13224?

No. As detailed in FAQ 821 , GL 8A authorizes certain humanitarian-related transactions and activities involving the CBI, NIOC, or any entity in which NIOC owns a 50 percent or greater interest, that would be prohibited by the GTSR or by the ITSR due to the exclusion at section 560.530(d)(5) of the… Read more

823. Do non-U.S. persons risk exposure to U.S. secondary sanctions for engaging in humanitarian-related transactions or activities involving the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) or the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) that U.S. persons would be authorized to engage in under General License No. 8A (GL 8A)?

No. Non-U.S. persons generally do not risk exposure under U.S. secondary sanctions relating to Iran for engaging in the sale of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, or medical devices to Iran, as such transactions are generally subject to exceptions in otherwise applicable authorities,… Read more

824. What is the Swiss Humanitarian Trade Arrangement (SHTA)?

On October 25, 2019, the U.S. Departments of State and the Treasury announced a new humanitarian framework to assist foreign governments and foreign financial institutions in establishing payment mechanisms to facilitate humanitarian exports to Iran that are subject to enhanced due diligence. While… Read more

825. How can parties participate in the Swiss Humanitarian Trade Arrangement (SHTA) to export humanitarian goods to Iran?

The SHTA is overseen by Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and intended for use by U.S. and non-U.S. persons domiciled in Switzerland. Exporters within Swiss jurisdiction may reach out to SECO at SHTA@seco.admin.ch for further details on requirements and instructions for… Read more

826. What options exist for exporting humanitarian goods to Iran outside the Swiss Humanitarian Trade Arrangement (SHTA)?

Transactions for the sale of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, and medical devices are not required to be processed through the SHTA. See FAQ 637 for guidance setting out existing exceptions to U.S. sanctions for the export of humanitarian goods to Iran. Foreign governments and foreign… Read more

318. Does the GL for medical devices authorize the exportation or reexportation of all medical devices?

No. The GL for medical devices appearing at section 560.530 (a)(3)(i) of the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations ( ITSR ) authorizes covered persons, as defined in section 560.530(e)(4), to export or reexport to Iran medical devices as defined in section 560.530(e)(3) of the ITSR, except… Read more

319. Does the GL for medical devices authorize the exportation or reexportation of these items to all entities in Iran?

No. While the GL under section 560.530 (a)(3)(i) of the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations ( ITSR ) authorizes exports or reexports of certain medical devices to most entities in Iran, it does not authorize exports or reexports to military, intelligence, or law enforcement purchasers or… Read more

361. What items and persons are excluded from the agricultural commodities general license in the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR)?

The specified items excluded from the scope of the agricultural commodities general license are: castor beans, castor bean seeds, certified pathogen-free eggs (unfertilized or fertilized), dried egg albumin, live animals (excluding live cattle, shrimp, and shrimp eggs), embryos (excluding cattle… Read more

362. Is the exportation or reexportation of non-U.S.-origin agricultural commodities, medicine, or medical devices by a U.S. person to Iran authorized?

Yes. The definitions of the terms “agricultural commodities,” “medicine,” and “medical device” used in the relevant general licenses in the ITSR include, in the case of items subject to Commerce's Export Administration Regulations (EAR), items that are designated as EAR99 and, in the case of items… Read more

363. Is the exportation or reexportation by non-U.S. persons of agricultural commodities, medicine, or medical devices that are subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to Iran authorized?

Yes. A non-U.S. person may export or reexport agricultural commodities, medicine, or medical devices to Iran under the relevant general licenses in the ITSR , provided that the items are subject to Commerce's Export Administration Regulations (EAR); and all conditions of the relevant general… Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

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